Ed Bird Wins 3000m Bronze at World Athletics U20 Championships

LIMA, Peru – Sophomore distance runner Ed Bird picked up the first global medal of his career on Thursday, earning bronze in the 3000m at the World Athletics U20 Championships at the Estadio Athlético de la VIDENA in Lima, Peru. The Brit made a tremendous close down the home stretch, moving from sixth to third in the final 100m to secure a spot on the podium. Bird finished in a time of 8:21.00, besting Ethiopia’s Ybeltal Gashahunby .02 seconds and securing the first medal of the Championships for Great Britain.

A native of Dorchester, England, Bird has previously won one continental medal, claiming bronze in the 3000m at the 2022 European U18 Championships. Colloquially known as the World Junior Championships, Bird’s result in Peru is the biggest of his international career.

“It was perfect,” Bird said. “I said in my plan I would hang around the back, get that inside lane and chill out. Every time the pace picked up I just found the gap to get through. I just kept going and going until we got to two laps to go, picked up got myself back. When the bell went I didn’t surge, I waited, down that back straight I started going and didn’t stop going.”

Bird is coming off of a successful freshman campaign with the Wildcats which saw him named to the All-SEC Freshman Team in Cross Country, qualify for the NCAA East First Rounds in the 5000m, and break four Kentucky freshman records (indoor 3000m, indoor 5000m, outdoor 1500m, and outdoor 5000m).

Follow Kentucky Track and Field and Cross Country on Facebook, Instagram, X, and UKathletics.com.